Sounding-board for pianos



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. F. LEONHARDT.

SOUNDING BOARD FOR PIANOS.

No. 602,992. Patented Apr. 26,1898.

Q vi tmeooeo No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet, 2. W. P. LEONHARDT.

SOUNDING BOARD FOR PIANOS. No. 602,992. Patented Apr. 26, 1898.

UNITED STATES PATENT EEicE.

\VILLIAM F. LEONHARDT, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

SOUNDlNG-BOARD FDR PIANOS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 602,992, dated April 26, 1898.

Application filed November 5, 1897. Serial No. 657,666- N model.)

To all) whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LWILLIAM F. LEONHARDT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Omaha, in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sounding-Boards for Pianos; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thercon,which form a part of this specification.

My invention has relation to improvements in sounding-boards for pianos; and the ob jects are to construct a duplex soundingboard which presents a much larger surface of sounding-board than is present in the older constructions; to provide a more perfect vibration to the strings of the instrument, especially to the lower or bass strings, and to correct the breaks in the quality of the tone and create an equally smooth and perfect tone throughout the entire scale. These objects are accomplished by cutting off the main sounding-board at an angle adjacent to the bass bridge, thus producing aseparate sounding -board for the overstrung strings, and thereby providing a scale complete throughout. I accomplish these objects by means of the constructions herein shown and described, which improved constructions may be applied without material alteration or modification of the present constructions of the piano case or frame.

Referring to the annexed drawings,forming a part hereof, Figure 1 is a top plan View of my improved sounding-board. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a detail View showing the connection of the overlapping sections on the curved side of the frame. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the connections on the straight side of the frame. Fig. (3 is a transverse section taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1.

It will readily be perceived that the invention is applicable to pianos with the usual pin-plates and wrest-plates and frame, it being only necessary to adapt the contour of the sounding-board frame to the lines of the opening in the iron frame. It is also apparent that the invention is applicable to all c011- structions of pianossquare, grand, or upright.

In the drawings my improved soundingboard is illustrated as of the shape adapted for use in a grand'piano, and, reference being had to these illustrations, A designates the supporting-frame of the sounding-board, consisting of an outer frame-bar 1, conforming to the shape or contour desired and of such strength as may be required. to give pormanence to the structure and reliability as a support to the sounding -boards mounted thereon and secured thereto. The outer border-bar of the frame is strengthened by intermediate bars 2 3, extending the length of the frame, with their respective ends suitably secured to the border-bar of the frame, and between these bars 2 and 3 is a cross-piece 5 and a supplemental short brace 4, fixed in the treble extension of the frame.

B designates the treble section or floor of the sounding-board made of the usual selected and seasoned wood and extending well over the area covered by the treble strings, substantially as shown in the drawings, and conforming in superficial outline to the contour of the frame which supports it. This treble sounding-board is supported on the border bar or rail of the frame by a depending Vertical flange 6, extending about its edges and made integral therewith or so as to form a fixed part thereof, the flange being suitably secured to the border-rail, so as to be a component part thereof. This flange 6 is thinner than the border-rail in order that it may not detract from the resonant vibrations of the sounding-board. The ends of this supporting-flange 6 are mortised or undercut, as at 7 8, to reach over and rest upon the intersect in g edge portions of the bass sounding-board. The free end of the board B lies diagonally across the frame in a long scroll curve, as at 9, and has extending along its under-face edge a narrow strengthening-strip 10 to give certainty of vibration to the board, and to further support this free end of the treble sounding-board and insure its uniform resonance sounding-board props 11 12 are mounted on the bars of the supporting-frame and loosely projected through openings in the bass section of the sounding-board, with their upper ends supporting the free end of the treble section of the sounding-board, and thereby preventing depression at the end of the board. 011 the face of the sounding-board B is se' cured the treble-string bridge 13, arranged diagonally across the board in a long scroll curve, as shown in the drawings. In this string-bridge 13 are fixed the usual stringpins 14 for the well-known purpose.

0 designates the bass section or floor of the sounding-board, having its outer edges eonforining to the contour of that part of the frame which it occupies and seated thereon and secured thereto by means of a depending edge flange 15, the inner and free edge of the board and flange at the sides extending under the mortise ends of the edge flange of the treble board, as seen at 16 17. The area of this bass section is less than that of the treble section B, but sufficient to produce the requisite resonant vibrations, its area being increased by directing its free end more directly across the frame than the free end of the treble section of the sounding-board. On the free edge of the bass board C is a substantial flange-piece 18 to strengthen the board and give it uniform resonance throughout. On the bass board is suitably secured a string bridge 19, across which the bass strings are stretched and held.

Diagonally across the under surface of the sounding-boards are secured strengtheningstrips 20, and across the angle of the treble frame is arranged and secured a stop or cutoff 21, which serves to cut off the dead end, give strength to the sounding-board, and fasten the ribs.

It will be perceived from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, that the respective floors or sections of the sounding-board are disposed on parallel planes one above the other, with a suitable space between their overlapping faces, which arrangement permits of increasing and enlarging the areas of both sections to the full extent required to produce complete vibration to all the strings of the respective series.

hat I claim is 1. Asounding-board forpianos,comprising a supporting-frame, two sounding-boards arranged on parallel planes at different heights, the one sounding-board extending from one side of the frame and the other extending from the other side, respectively, with their free ends overlapping and extending diagonally across the frame, and supports projected from the frame to support the edge of the overlapping portion of the upper board.

2. Asounding-board forpianos,co1nprising a supporting-frail]e, two sounding-boards arranged on parallel planes at different heights, the one sounding-board extending from one side of the frame and the other soundingboard extending from the other side of the frame, with their free ends overlapping and extending diagonally across the frame, depending vertical flanges on the outer edges of each board to rest upon and be secured to the border-rail of the frame, supports for the free diagonal edge of the upper board, and string-bridges on the boards.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM F. LEONIIARDT. Witnesses:

CHAS. F. STEPHENS, W. R. LIGHTON. 

